This is Halloween.

Yes, this is Halloween around the Stiffler household. Don't get scared now.

NFL: Worst decision of the year

Bill Simmons: "The Dolphins are 0-7 against the spread. They've lost to a 2-4 team and three 1-5 teams. And Drew Brees has emerged as an MVP candidate in New Orleans. Yup, it's safe to say that Culpepper-over-Brees has officially passed Williams-over-Bush as the single-worst NFL decision of 2006."
I'm giddy.

NFL: Getting Breesy in The Big Easy

Random Drew Brees Notes:

- I'm not saying it's the greatest website ever, but I'm not saying that it's not either.
www.drewbrees.com

- Peter King of Sport Illustrated wrote in an article that Drew Brees had dinner at Emeril Lagasse's restaurant and the crowd there broke into applause. Pretty soon everyone in the restaurant was standing giving him a rousing ovation. New Orleans fans: We Purdue alum know how you feel.

- Fortunately the auction for this was over. Otherwise I may have had to mortgage my house and sell all of my possessions to bid on it:

A New Orleans Saints Football Fantasy Trip*
--  Two seats in quarterback Drew Brees' private luxury box at the
    Superdome for any game in the '06-07 season (excluding playoffs); a
    visit to the Saints locker room; photos and autographs with Brees,
    including a signed football and game jersey; and dinner that evening
    with Brees prepared by legendary New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse.

NFL/Purdue: Brees vs. Culpepper

No, I didn't write this article, but it certainly sounds like something I would write, doesn't it?

"Brees making Miami regret QB choice
By Ken Thompson
Lafayette Journal & Courier

If I'm Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban, I'm looking for new team doctors.

The physicians' concerns about Drew Brees' shoulder led Saban and the Dolphins to shy away from the former Purdue great, unwisely cut loose by the San Diego Chargers. Instead, Miami sent a second-round draft pick to Minnesota for Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper was available because of a severe knee injury, which apparently didn't bother those same doctors.

But Saban doesn't get a free pass. An experienced coach should know that a mobile quarterback will have a more difficult recovery from a knee injury than a pocket passer like Cincinnati's Carson Palmer. Not coincidentally, Palmer's comeback has been far more successful.

Sunday, Culpepper wasn't even active for the Dolphins' game against the New York Jets, benched last week in favor of Detroit Lions castoff Joey Harrington.

Brees? He merely threw three touchdown passes for the New Orleans Saints and led an eight minute game-winning drive against NFC East leader Philadelphia.

With Brees, New Orleans owns the second-best record in the NFC behind the Chicago Bears at 5-1. Miami? Last place in the AFC East.

Brees is 138 of 207 for 1,509 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. He entered Sunday fifth in the NFC in passer rating (91.6).

Culpepper: 81 of 134 for 779 yards, two TDs, 3 INTs, passer rating of 77.0.

Oops.
"

Original Story.

Pumpkin Works

Pumpkin Works has become a tradition to take my nephew to, so Sunday afternoon Rachel and I joined Brian, Mandy, Andy, and my mom in Paris (Illinois, not France). Our activities included

- Picking pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. We were informed the pumpkin crop had been hit by some kind of bacteria, but we managed to find some good ones after picking through acres of vines.

- Hayride complete with unneeded commentary on Illinois nature history by our driver ("We used to camp out here and drank right from the crik!")

- A nine acre corn maze in the shape of a jungle scene with monkeys. This maze was definitely more difficult than last years. We were a little worried we might have to stay there until harvesting time. Funniest ongoing joke: "I think we went this way before...I remember seeing corn."

- Pumpkin slings where you can take a miniature pumpkin and attempt to hit targets hundreds of yards away. Great way to relieve stress; we so need one of these in our backyard.

- Smaller hay/straw mazes for Brian-sized people.

You can see all the pictures here.

Boo!

Rachel has been busy decorating the house for fall and Halloween. Here are some pictures of our now spooky house. You can see all of the pictures here.